Player Actions & Decisions

Online Poker Different poker games have different betting structures, but there is a common set of player actions that all betting takes place with:

Check – take no action. When you ‘check’, you’re not putting any chips into the pot, but you’re not folding either. You’re simply passing on your turn. You can always call or even raise a player that acts after you, unless the whole table checks or folds. In that case, the betting round is over and anyone who checked is still in the game.

Bet – to put chips on the table. You wager with the other players over who has the best poker hand. Betting in poker is risking chips so you can see more cards. The stronger your cards are, the more you should be willing to risk, and the more you should be making other people pay to stay in the game. Some games restrict the betting amount, while others have no bet limits. This depends on the betting structure of each game.

The first bet is called the opening bet, or just the opening. Once someone has placed a bet, other players may respond with the following actions:

Fold – quit the hand. You give up whatever chips are in the pot. You are no longer participating in this hand. Basically, you fold when you feel your hand is weak, and you don’t want to risk any more chips just to see how it might play out.

Call – match the bet. You want to stay in the hand, and you are willing to pay the price. When you call, you put down the same amount of chips as the last bet. You are still in the game.

Raise – increase the bet. When you want to force other players to risk even more chips, you may raise their bet. With a raise, as with a big bet, you make a stand about how strong your hand is. If you’re forcing others to pay more just to stay in the game, you probably feel confident with your cards…or not. In poker, all actions (even folding) can be used to bluff and deceive. A raise is a strong point to make, which is why it is often used as a bluff, in an attempt to make people fold when you have a weak hand. Before you try this at home you should be warned - someone can always re-raise your raise!

These are the basic actions a player can choose from during the game of poker. Combinations of these actions also exist, and comprise a wide range of tactical moves. Online poker rooms also offer many alterations and combinations for players to choose from. Here are some examples:

Call any – Once you choose this option, the computer will have you call any bet made during this round.

Check-Fold – Check while possible, fold when forced. There is no reason to fold if no one is making you. If your hand is weak to the point that you don’t want to risk any more chips, you may choose to ‘check-fold’. This gives you a chance to see the next card for free if you can, but to fold if anyone bets, so you don’t risk any more chips.

These actions can be taken manually, but part of the online poker experience is the ability to utilize the technology and choose combined actions that will be carried out automatically by the computer.

Here is an example of a tactical combination made up of two actions:

Check-Raise – If you want to make the pot significantly larger, you can first check your turn and hope someone raises, just so you can raise them. Generally speaking, it’s a logical assumption that someone will raise during a betting round. If everyone is checking, someone is likely to feel he has a superior hand and raise. Even if no one has any kind of hand, someone might raise just to make others fold. You can then raise his bet and accomplish your mission.